James Harrison (92) takes a Kurt Warner pass the length of the field on the last play of the first half to give the Steelers a 17-7 lead at the break. It was the longest play in Super Bowl history.

James Harrison (92) takes a Kurt Warner pass the length of the field on the last play of the first half to give the Steelers a 17-7 lead at the break. It was the longest play in Super Bowl history.

Photo: Mark Humphrey, AP

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Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band whipped the crowd into a frenzy with a 12-minute halftime show that included his hits Born to Run and Glory Days.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band whipped the crowd into a frenzy with a 12-minute halftime show that included his hits Born to Run and Glory Days.

Photo: Win McNamee, Getty Images

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Cardinals tight end Ben Patrick, right, leaps over Pittsburgh linebacker Larry Foote to snag a second-quarter touchdown pass from Kurt Warner. It was Arizona’s only score of the half against Pittsburgh’s No. 1-ranked defense. less

Cardinals tight end Ben Patrick, right, leaps over Pittsburgh linebacker Larry Foote to snag a second-quarter touchdown pass from Kurt Warner. It was Arizona’s only score of the half against ... more

TAMPA, Fla. – Pittsburgh entered Super Bowl XLIII with the No. 1 defense in the NFL. They ranked second against the run and first against the pass while also allowing the fewest points in the league. But it was the defensive players who thanked the offensive players for pulling out the 27-23 victory over Arizona.

“Our offense bailed us out,” said Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley, who recorded two sacks, the last one that forced the game-clinching fumble.

After Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald combined for two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter — the second one a 64-yarder — the Steelers trailed 23-20 with 2:37 remaining.

“We let them get too many points,” Woodley said. “When Fitzgerald scored that last touchdown, I thought there was plenty of time on the clock for our offense to score.”

Harrison’s historic run

Ben Roethlisberger then delivered, guiding the Steelers on an eight-play, 78-yard drive that ended with his 6-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes.

“I’ve got a lot of love for him (Holmes) right now,” outside linebacker James Harrison said. “Oh, my God, I don’t believe it. That won us the game. Our offense came through when we needed it.”

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Harrison also came through when the Steelers needed it, as he recorded the longest play in Super Bowl history.

The Cardinals trailed 10-7 near the end of the first half and had a first down at the Pittsburgh 1. Warner tried to throw a quick slant to Anquan Boldin, but Harrison stepped in front of it and went 100 yards for a touchdown.

“We were on a max blitz,” Harrison said. “I knew he had to get rid of the ball quick. I guessed on it and shifted out, and he threw it straight to me. After that, it was about my teammates helping me get to the other end.

“I’m not going to lie. I had about a quarter tank left, but I made it.”

The Cardinals still had one last shot at the end, reaching the Pittsburgh 44-yard line, before Warner’s fumble ended the game.

Tomlin not rattled

“This game was so amazing,” Steelers safety Troy Polamalu said. “You’re seconds from crying in the locker room, and then you’re celebrating. Oh, my God, you can’t explain it.

“Ben did a great job taking our offense down the field. It was just amazing.”

Warner threw for 224 of his 377 yards in the fourth quarter. His second touchdown pass to Fitzgerald happened so fast that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was confident his team would still win.

“We’ve got a team that doesn’t blink in the face of adversity,” Tomlin said. “It’s never going to be pretty or perfect. When we’ve needed it the most, they’ve done it, and they’ve done it big.”

Tomlin was asked if he’d had a chance to touch the Lombardi Trophy.

“I see five of them every day when I go to work,” he said about the trophies that are encased in glass at the team’s practice facility. “I’m just glad I did my part in contributing to another one.”